paint the color of moonlight
and a flap that must be
persuaded to open
I make my deposit
asking for dreams, again
the same request with the same
mixture of hope and apprehension
wanting to believe I am asking for dreams
knowing it is not that simple – that I am asking
to wake up
at last
for the light
through these
dirty windows
to be the gift
of a real sun
for the chance to sleep
in order to dream
and to dream
perchance
to awaken
after all these years
how will I know
the dream
from
the
waking?